Friday, July 22, 2011

Music Assessment

During the first week of class, all students participate in a music assessment to help determine which voice instructor will work with them. Nancy Caron returns to our team this year as a voice instructor, and she is joined by Andy Pokel, who is fresh off his little red truck, having served as one of MCT's TAD's (that stands for tour actor director, for the Missoula Children’s Theatre, bringing performing arts to communities in nine states and three Canadian provinces this past spring. Here he is (that's Nancy sitting behind him).

Brenna joins us from Nevada...

Shelbi joins us from Missoula, Montana.

Kelsey joins us from Washington.

While many of the students have been performing for years, it is still a bit intimidating to get up in front a room of approximately thirty people you just met two days ago and belt out a tune. It is great that our students have created a wonderfully supportive environment where they encourage one another and help each other through these difficult moments. It is one thing to sit in a chair...

it is another thing to get up there and do it! Jewel joins us from Germany.

Laura joins us from Idaho.

Stormy joins us from Missoula.

Emma also comes from Nevada.

Sarah joins us from Fergus, Montana.

Our accompanist, Anne Bashor, joins us for the third year as well. She is so kind and supportive of our students, and gently reminds them of audition etiquette. Here Josh (a new student who joins us from Germany) and Anne review his music before he sings to the group...

Don't let that frown fool you! Micaela is a returning student who is all smiles (she was at Next Step last summer) and hails to us from Idaho...

Giuliana is one of our local students from Missoula...

Rachel also comes to us from Missoula...

The students sing a variety of songs from all genres of musical theatre...

Chance joins us from Frenchtown, Montana, about 20 minutes from Missoula.

Kasi is another local student from Missoula.

Twenty outstanding performances in two hours! We are amazed at the talented, dedicated young performers we have at Next Step Prep this year!